I can see them checking back to the files of 1812...looking for precident on the insurance claims...

Has the show's insurance company made any overtures to the homeowners yet?

From what I've read, yes. They are working with everyone to make it right.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. They had a show a few weeks ago where they showed one of their first bomb experiences, at a bomb range, created such a large sonic boom, it broke out windows and things in the local town.

I can see them checking back to the files of 1812...looking for precident on the insurance claims...

Has the show's insurance company made any overtures to the homeowners yet?

From what I've read, yes. They are working with everyone to make it right.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. They had a show a few weeks ago where they showed one of their first bomb experiences, at a bomb range, created such a large sonic boom, it broke out windows and things in the local town.

So how many times can they destroy property and cause people inconvenience before they need to show some restraint?

I can see them checking back to the files of 1812...looking for precident on the insurance claims...

Has the show's insurance company made any overtures to the homeowners yet?

From what I've read, yes. They are working with everyone to make it right.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. They had a show a few weeks ago where they showed one of their first bomb experiences, at a bomb range, created such a large sonic boom, it broke out windows and things in the local town.

So how many times can they destroy property and cause people inconvenience before they need to show some restraint?

I can see them checking back to the files of 1812...looking for precident on the insurance claims...

Has the show's insurance company made any overtures to the homeowners yet?

From what I've read, yes. They are working with everyone to make it right.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. They had a show a few weeks ago where they showed one of their first bomb experiences, at a bomb range, created such a large sonic boom, it broke out windows and things in the local town.

So how many times can they destroy property and cause people inconvenience before they need to show some restraint?

In what way?

Well, there's no pressing need for them to be playing with heavy explosives, is there? I've only seen the programme a couple of times, it did seem a lot like playing, which is fine when they're only risking their own safety but the scale of these two, necessitating a bomb range, seems excessive. I wouldn't want to be on the crew!

I can see them checking back to the files of 1812...looking for precident on the insurance claims...

Has the show's insurance company made any overtures to the homeowners yet?

From what I've read, yes. They are working with everyone to make it right.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. They had a show a few weeks ago where they showed one of their first bomb experiences, at a bomb range, created such a large sonic boom, it broke out windows and things in the local town.

So how many times can they destroy property and cause people inconvenience before they need to show some restraint?

In what way?

Well, there's no pressing need for them to be playing with heavy explosives, is there? I've only seen the programme a couple of times, it did seem a lot like playing, which is fine when they're only risking their own safety but the scale of these two, necessitating a bomb range, seems excessive. I wouldn't want to be on the crew!

The show is about debunking myths, as well as lots of scientific experiments. They do a lot of things with explosives. But like I said, they really do have tons and tons of specialists around and they take a lot of care to be as safe as possible. But in any type of experiment, things can go wrong. When the do things with explosives or other things, they are always done on bomb ranges, or out in the middle of nowhere.

They've also recently met with President Obama, who gave them lots of accolades for getting kids interested in science. I really like the show because it is entertaining and fun to watch, but it's also quite educational.

If a cannonball went through my home or my car (or a sonic boom blew out my windows) it would take a whole lot more then mere money to make me "whole" again. Its winter - a hole in the wall is going to mess with heat. Not having a car is a huge inconvenience, especially right before the holidays. Home owners insurance rates will rise. No doubt a few days will have to be taken off by the homeowners to meet with repair people. Etc. This is really not ok behavior IMO.

*shrugs* Physics wins. They do take precautions, and they were apologetic. Moreover, while they acceded to photos with fans following their apology, Adam Savage was very chastened about what had occurred and observed that the circumstances were such that smiling even for the photos was inappropriate.

Logged

• Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe.

I can see them checking back to the files of 1812...looking for precident on the insurance claims...

Has the show's insurance company made any overtures to the homeowners yet?

From what I've read, yes. They are working with everyone to make it right.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. They had a show a few weeks ago where they showed one of their first bomb experiences, at a bomb range, created such a large sonic boom, it broke out windows and things in the local town.

So how many times can they destroy property and cause people inconvenience before they need to show some restraint?

So far, there have been only two incidents mentioned involving property damage (sonic boom breaking windows and misaimed cannon) from a show that has been running since 2003 and uses explosives frequently (I'm not a regular watcher, but I'm not sure I've ever seen a Mythbusters episode that didn't involve an explosion of some sort). To me, that doesn't suggest a flagrant disregard for public safety--on the contrary, it suggests that they usually do have sufficient safety precautions, and there have been a couple of very unfortunate miscalculations. After the accident, they are trying to make reparations to those who were harmed by it--it seems to me that they're doing things right.

Like PPs, I think that significant responsibility also rests with whoever approved their use of the bomb range--if the person running the bomb range can't make a good estimate of what is safe to try there and what is a danger to nearby homes (and doesn't know to err on the side of judging something too dangerous, if there is doubt), then that is a problem that has little to do with the Mythbusters.

I don't know how Mythbusters is entitled. If anyone should take the heat for it, it's the people in charge of the bomb range who allowed it to happen. In every episode, they always bring in highly trained, highly qualified professionals to make sure that everything is as safe as possible.

Obviously, in this case, someone miscalculated. If the bomb range wasn't appropriate for this kind of thing, then I think it was up to the bomb dudes to say so.

I can see them checking back to the files of 1812...looking for precident on the insurance claims...

Has the show's insurance company made any overtures to the homeowners yet?

From what I've read, yes. They are working with everyone to make it right.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. They had a show a few weeks ago where they showed one of their first bomb experiences, at a bomb range, created such a large sonic boom, it broke out windows and things in the local town.

So how many times can they destroy property and cause people inconvenience before they need to show some restraint?

In what way?

Cancel science!

Seriously though, one could argue that it's "just a TV show", but the fact is that they're doing the same type of experiments that scientists and experts do all over the world. They just happen to be doing it on camera. Any science experiment could go awry. It could have been tragic and of course they are responsible for damages/inconvenience (which, with my impression of the men, will be no issue for them) but accidents happen every day in science... two property damages in 9 years really isn't out of line.

Seriously though, one could argue that it's "just a TV show", but the fact is that they're doing the same type of experiments that scientists and experts do all over the world. They just happen to be doing it on camera. Any science experiment could go awry. It could have been tragic and of course they are responsible for damages/inconvenience (which, with my impression of the men, will be no issue for them) but accidents happen every day in science... two property damages in 9 years really isn't out of line.

I agree. We are regular watchers and thanks to my sons, there are many episodes where I can almost say their lines before they do. From what I can see they are on the bomb range, or the military facility or any of the places they run the explosive or other more dangerous experiments because they DON'T want to risk their crew. They often show that they are doing more safety steps than they think they will need. I would have no problem standing with them in anything they ran, I do believe that they would keep me safe.

Seriously though, one could argue that it's "just a TV show", but the fact is that they're doing the same type of experiments that scientists and experts do all over the world. They just happen to be doing it on camera. Any science experiment could go awry. It could have been tragic and of course they are responsible for damages/inconvenience (which, with my impression of the men, will be no issue for them) but accidents happen every day in science... two property damages in 9 years really isn't out of line.

I agree. We are regular watchers and thanks to my sons, there are many episodes where I can almost say their lines before they do. From what I can see they are on the bomb range, or the military facility or any of the places they run the explosive or other more dangerous experiments because they DON'T want to risk their crew. They often show that they are doing more safety steps than they think they will need. I would have no problem standing with them in anything they ran, I do believe that they would keep me safe.

Many times they actually conduct the experiments from inside bunkers, or they are really far away from the actual explosion site.

I wonder how many other incidents have happened at either of the sites where the Mythbusters had those incidents? I can't imagine the only time there has ever been any kind of accident has only been when the Mythbusters and their cameras are around.

I would imagine that living next to a bomb range doesn't always mean peace and quiet. Seems like a possible sonic boom comes with the territory.

Also, what happened was that they weren't away that the cannon would "jump" as significantly as it did. That is, the weapon's reaction added to the cannonball's elevation, increasing its ascent angle. That was what caused the misfire. I'm sure they didn't do this in a vacuum. I'm sure the range officials checked it all out beforehand, gave it the okay... and were just as stunned when the projectile proceeded to soar higher than they thought.

Accidents happen. Maybe they should have their own dedicated testing range, but then... what government would allow a private company to open a munitions testing range?